[book] What are you reading Part 3

[Toxic Girl]

Originally Posted by banky

Just finished One Day by David Nicholls, great book, definitely a new favourite, also helps that the subject matter very fitting at the moment. Anyone else read it? Fancy something similar for my next read, any suggestions?

It's one of my favourite books in a loooong time. Loved it.

[banky]

It's great isn't it! Really similar a friendship I have at the moment

[johnsy]

Just about to start reading Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre. True story about how the British got a freshly departed man, dressed him up as a high-ranking military sort, created a big back-story ("letters from his girlfriend", obituary in the press, etc) and included some "secret plans" in his pockets when dumped in the sea for the Germans to find. The plans, of course, were fake, to throw them off the scent of what was REALLY happening. Or something like that! As I say, I've not started reading it yet...

[Munas]

I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

[Pazman2k]

I picked up the Stuart Macbride book Blind Eye while waiting for my next Reacher books to arrive.
Picked it up as I'm third generation Polak, nice to see he's used a bit of Polish in the book Thats about the main highlight for me though...It's not bad so far but I really dislike his writing style.

[SShaw]

Finished Alice in Wonderland which I enjoyed.

Struggled to the end of "How Many Friends Does A Person Need?" which turned out to be dull and repetitive and had no apparent central theme or idea.

I also read Christopher Fowler's autobiography "Paperboy" which I really wanted to like more than I did.

I picked up a copy of "The Once and Future King" while I was up in Edinburgh at the weekend. This large tome collects White's retellings of the King Arthur myths. I had read "The Sword in the Stone" before as a child, but so far it hasn't struck any chords with my memory of the book - its fun none-the-less and should keep me going well into next week.

[Jonnyrepp]

I just finished "Forged in Fury" by Michael Elkins - sadly out of print but bought it on Ebay.

It's the story of how some Jews grouped together both during the Nazi persecution in World War 2 and afterwards where they basically went round killing as many of them as they could get their hands on. It starts by charting the individual histories of the main members and how their experiences led them to form their group called Din which means judgement in Hebrew.

The book detailed some of the humiliations and atrocities inflicted on the families and friends of these people and how they had no allies in the East - shockingly, Polish partisans enjoyed a bit of Jew killing, even though they had a common enemy and should have been on the same side.

The tales of resistance and dignity in the face of insurmountable odds was inspirational and I for one found it hard to disagree with the notion of gaining some measure of revenge on their persecutors.

Many of the group made their way over to Israel after the war and the idea of making it to the "promised land" is largely what kept them going during their darkest hours. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of the book and I won't go into them any further here, I found it as compelling as it was shocking and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interets in the time.

[LouBarlow]

Well after threatening to a few weeks back, I've dug in for the long haul and am now about 8% (thank you Kindle) into 'Unintended Consequences' and it is very good indeed so far.

I was a bit worried at the start as it did seem a little too 'gun-porn-y' but although it does sometimes come acrossas technically heavy, the facts and figures are justified in the narrative. The Nazi camp sections in particular.

It's gonna take me a while but very enjoyable thus far!

[cedge]

Just finished reading Stuart MacBride's 'Dying Light' featuring DS Logan McRae.

A definate improvement IMO from his first novel Cold Granite. Very gruesome in places and the characters are starting to grow on me. Was going to call it a day if this one wasn't very good as I wasn't 'sold' after Cold Granite but I'm starting to get hooked into the series and its characters.

[TonyG]

Originally Posted by cedge

Just finished reading Stuart MacBride's 'Dying Light' featuring DS Logan McRae.

A definate improvement IMO from his first novel Cold Granite. Very gruesome in places and the characters are starting to grow on me. Was going to call it a day if this one wasn't very good as I wasn't 'sold' after Cold Granite but I'm starting to get hooked into the series and its characters.

Having just recently completed reading all five Logan novels, I personally though "Dying Light" was the poorest, especially for the storylines. Having read them in order, I loved the first but the second almost made me think he was a one-hit wonder. Thankfully I continued & three through to book five were very good.

My most recent novel was Or She Dies by Gregg Hurwitz
which is easily the best thriller i've read in a long time. The blurb for it makes it sound like a typical Harlan Coben novel, but it's oh so much more. Very well written, a realistic central character & a great plot. Highly recommended.

[Pazman2k]

[QUOTE=TonyG;8993684]Having just recently completed reading all five Logan novels, I personally though "Dying Light" was the poorest, especially for the storylines. Having read them in order, I loved the first but the second almost made me think he was a one-hit wonder. Thankfully I continued & three through to book five were very good.
QUOTE]

Blind Eye was pretty lame.

[TonyG]

Originally Posted by Pazman2k

Blind Eye was pretty lame.

I found it enjoyable. Some good OTT action, Logan doing some detective work somewhere that's not Aberdeen, and best of all, plenty of Inspector Steele, who just cracks me up.

[Pazman2k]

The description of Poland really annoyed me. He made it out to be some crappy seedy blackpool type place.

[GK]

Originally Posted by SimonI

Just started Murakami's Dance Dance Dance - as intriuging as ever; looking forward to the one armed penguin

Did I imagine it or does he plant extracts from song lyrics in it? Seen a couple so far.

Just couldn't get on with it. A friend passed it my based on our shared love of David Mitchell and I can see why but after less than 50 pages it lost me. Or me it.

In the past year, I finally read the Kazuo Ishiguro novel I'd not got around to, Never Let Me Go, a novel that moved me deeply and I've been throwing it at anyone within reach. It depends so much on the authorial voice, or, more accurately, the narrator Kathy H and her dispassionate take on her, shall we say, emerging circumstances, that I've been wary as hell about the upcoming film. But Mark Romenek is directing in his first film since 'One Hour Photo', and that strikes me as close to perfect. Oh, and who's he cast in that plum lead role ? Carey Mulligan.

[hongkong_uk]

Originally Posted by johnsy

Just about to start reading Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre. True story about how the British got a freshly departed man, dressed him up as a high-ranking military sort, created a big back-story ("letters from his girlfriend", obituary in the press, etc) and included some "secret plans" in his pockets when dumped in the sea for the Germans to find. The plans, of course, were fake, to throw them off the scent of what was REALLY happening. Or something like that! As I say, I've not started reading it yet...

I have picked this up too. Loving it so far. I am about half the way through it and it really is Boy's own stuff. Recommended.

[fodder]

Just finished Jungle Soldier by Brian Moynahan which I thought was excellent.
Ordered Operation Mincemeat on the strength of the above from The Book Depository.

[H Dot]

Made a great start to this year (for me atleast) so far I've read The girl with dragon tatoo and it's sequel the girl that played with fire both great and I wizzed through them, I have the 3rd book on order as a paperback. Just finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy good book but I found it hard to finish I struggled towards the end. Next up The Lovely Bones

[ohood]

Finally reading 'IT'.

Very enjoyable.

[SimonI]

Originally Posted by GK

Just couldn't get on with it. A friend passed it my based on our shared love of David Mitchell and I can see why but after less than 50 pages it lost me. Or me it.

Have you read any of his other work? I'm halfway through and while enjoying it am aware that it is almost Murakami by numbers. His narrator protagonists often seem to be very similar. The best one I've read so far is The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.

Originally Posted by GK

In the past year, I finally read the Kazuo Ishiguro novel I'd not got around to, Never Let Me Go, a novel that moved me deeply and I've been throwing it at anyone within reach. It depends so much on the authorial voice, or, more accurately, the narrator Kathy H and her dispassionate take on her, shall we say, emerging circumstances, that I've been wary as hell about the upcoming film. But Mark Romenek is directing in his first film since 'One Hour Photo', and that strikes me as close to perfect. Oh, and who's he cast in that plum lead role ? Carey Mulligan.

I've read a couple of his and not found them very engaging (I laboured through the whole of The Unconsoled wondering what I was getting out of it - but then I am allergic to stories of endless dreams/nightmares/dislocations... which is why I hated Lynch's Inland Empire so much!). However, anything with Carey Mulligan

[Summerisle]

Originally Posted by johnsy

Just about to start reading Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre. True story about how the British got a freshly departed man, dressed him up as a high-ranking military sort, created a big back-story ("letters from his girlfriend", obituary in the press, etc) and included some "secret plans" in his pockets when dumped in the sea for the Germans to find. The plans, of course, were fake, to throw them off the scent of what was REALLY happening. Or something like that! As I say, I've not started reading it yet...

There's a good movie based on this story The Man Who Never Was from the fifties and features a cameo by Ewen Montagu who thought up the idea.